Transient and heterogeneous protein interactions play important roles both in the catalytic and regulatory functions of protein complexes and multi-modular machinery. However, the technical challenges involved in structural characterizations of such systems have placed critical barriers against understanding their intrinsic behavior. The vitamin B12-dependent methionine synthase and class Ia ribonucleotide reductases are two enzymes that epitomize such systems where structural insight into their multiple conformations will advance our understanding of their physiological and medically relevant behavior. To meet the technical challenge of investigating these systems, I will exploit the ensemble structural information that can be gained by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and employ mathematical methods to deconvolute the mixtures into quantifiable individual states. This work will be complemented by crystallography, spectroscopy, and analytical ultracentrifugation.

Public Health Relevance

Ribonucleotide reductase is a protein found in all organisms that is an important target for cancer drugs, and methionine synthase is an important protein in healthy pregnancies. By investigating the structure of these """"""""floppy"""""""" proteins that have been challenging to study, we will gain better insight into drug design targeting ribonucleotide reductase and genetic mutations in methionine synthase.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Career Transition Award (K99)
Project #
1K99GM100008-01
Application #
8225883
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1-BRT-X (KR))
Program Officer
Gerratana, Barbara
Project Start
2012-02-02
Project End
2013-12-31
Budget Start
2012-02-02
Budget End
2012-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$90,000
Indirect Cost
$6,667
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139
Parker, Mackenzie J; Maggiolo, Ailiena O; Thomas, William C et al. (2018) An endogenous dAMP ligand in Bacillus subtilis class Ib RNR promotes assembly of a noncanonical dimer for regulation by dATP. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:E4594-E4603
Davis, Katherine M; Schramma, Kelsey R; Hansen, William A et al. (2017) Structures of the peptide-modifying radical SAM enzyme SuiB elucidate the basis of substrate recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:10420-10425
Meisburger, Steve P; Ando, Nozomi (2017) Correlated Motions from Crystallography beyond Diffraction. Acc Chem Res 50:580-583
Meisburger, Steve P; Thomas, William C; Watkins, Maxwell B et al. (2017) X-ray Scattering Studies of Protein Structural Dynamics. Chem Rev 117:7615-7672
Rustiguel, Joane K; Soares, Ricardo O S; Meisburger, Steve P et al. (2016) Full-length model of the human galectin-4 and insights into dynamics of inter-domain communication. Sci Rep 6:33633
Ando, Nozomi; Li, Haoran; Brignole, Edward J et al. (2016) Allosteric Inhibition of Human Ribonucleotide Reductase by dATP Entails the Stabilization of a Hexamer. Biochemistry 55:373-81
Meisburger, Steve P; Taylor, Alexander B; Khan, Crystal A et al. (2016) Domain Movements upon Activation of Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Characterized by Crystallography and Chromatography-Coupled Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. J Am Chem Soc 138:6506-16
Skou, Soren; Gillilan, Richard E; Ando, Nozomi (2014) Synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering of proteins in solution. Nat Protoc 9:1727-39
Minnihan, Ellen C; Ando, Nozomi; Brignole, Edward J et al. (2013) Generation of a stable, aminotyrosyl radical-induced ?2?2 complex of Escherichia coli class Ia ribonucleotide reductase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:3835-40
Ando, Nozomi; Kung, Yan; Can, Mehmet et al. (2012) Transient B12-dependent methyltransferase complexes revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering. J Am Chem Soc 134:17945-54

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